Author Archives: Darrin Bauming

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg’s playoff dreams were dashed with a swift swipe of the broom as the Anaheim Ducks swept the Jets in four straight games with a 5-2 win in front of the ever-enthusiastic 15,016 at MTS Centre Wednesday night.

The franchise — including the 12 years when they were known as the Atlanta Thrashers — has never won a Stanley Cup Playoff game despite two separate appearances. Back in 2007, while holding the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the Thrashers were knocked out in four-straight at the hands of the New York Rangers.

Year four in the Manitoba capital and the Jets finally edged their way into the post-season by capturing the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot, pairing them up in the first round with the West’s best regular season club.

With a Stanley Cup Playoff spot safely secured and nothing to be lost or gained in their regular season finalé, the Winnipeg Jets rested several veterans and dressed a skeleton crew for their 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.

With the likes of Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Mark Stuart, and Ondrej Pavelec among others getting the day off, it allowed the club’s black aces to play and rookies Connor Hellebuyck and Andrew Copp to dress for their first NHL games.

Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Eddie Lack (31) keeps his eye on the rebound as Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry (17) and Canucks’ Christopher Tanev (8) look on during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Saturday, April 4, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)

“A lot of credit goes to my linemates,” said Stempniak, now with five goals in 14 games since joining the Jets via trade on March 1. “(Mathieu Perreault) has been great since he’s been back. He creates a lot out there. For me, just trying to get open once he has the puck. He plays hard. He competes hard. He’s really creative with the puck. It’s a pretty good blend for a line (with centre Adam Lowry).”

Sports Highlights

New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider (20) celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec (31) during third period NHL action in Winnipeg on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)

WINNIPEG — Coming off a heartbreaking last-minute loss on Sunday night, the Winnipeg Jets were looking to shake off any ‘bad feels’ they had on Tuesday night and continue their climb towards a playoff appearance against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

But again, with the game tied late, Winnipeg’s hopes in gaining any points in the dead-heat Western Conference standings were dashed as New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider broke in and broke the hearts of the majority of the 15,016 inside MTS Centre — handing the Rangers a 3-2 win and Winnipeg a consecutive loss.

Winnipeg Jets’ Blake Wheeler (26) avoids a check from St. Louis Blues’ Zbynek Michalek, right, as Jets’ Drew Stafford (12) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice referred to the St. Louis Blues as the best team in the league following morning skate, and his scrappy club rose to the occasion Thursday night as the two division rivals battled into overtime and eventually the shootout with a raucous capacity MTS Centre crowd ignited following a 2-1 Jets victory.

Ondrej Pavelec, the embattled veteran Jets goaltender, played the role of redeemer stopping 32 shots through 65 minutes in addition to halting the dangerous duo of Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko in the shootout to seal the win.

“(Pavelec) made us look good when we couldn’t look good,” said Maurice of his goaltender, who made a third-straight start after going nearly four months without consecutive nods in the Jets starting lineup.

Winnipeg Jets’ Blake Wheeler (26) knocks a puck out of the air to beat San Jose Sharks’ goaltender Alex Stalock (32) during third period NHL hockey action in Winnipeg, Tuesday, March 17, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Trevor Hagan)

WINNIPEG — Entering Tuesday as the two clubs directly below the Western Conference playoff line with 13 games to play in the regular season, saying the meeting between the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets would be important might be a bit of an understatement.

Fortunate for the 15,016 Jets faithful at MTS Centre, the home club came out with their engines in full burn, taking a 3-0 stranglehold in the opening 13:01 on their way to a decisive 5-2 victory.

The win puts the 35-23-12 Jets back into playoff position, leapfrogging the idle Los Angeles Kings and into the second Western Conference Wild Card spot with 82 points.

Winnipeg Jets’ Tyler Myers (57) celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings’ during second period NHL hockey action in Winnipeg Sunday, March 1, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Trevor Hagan)

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Jets put the brakes on one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League in a rare matinée at MTS Centre with a dominant 5-2 victory.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings entered Winnipeg on Sunday afternoon winners of eight of their last 10 games, but a pair of goals from Jets captain Andrew Ladd and strong defensive play from goaltender Michael Hutchinson on outward helped the Jets cruise to victory.

“We’re comfortable with the style that we play and have a good understanding of what we need to do too to win those hockey games,” said Ladd, now with 22 goals and a team-leading 52 points on the season. “I think we head into every game knowing that we can beat any team, and that’s our expectation.”